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Asked: 2024-09-25T23:07:06+05:30 In:

After performing a fresh installation of Ubuntu 22.04, I’ve encountered an issue where the Alt key is unresponsive. Has anyone else faced this problem, and if so, could you share any solutions or troubleshooting steps that worked for you?

I just installed Ubuntu 22.04 fresh on my laptop, and I’m running into a really frustrating issue: the Alt key doesn’t seem to be working at all. I’ve spent the last couple of hours trying to figure it out, and I’ve got to say, it’s turning into a bit of a headache. I can’t even access some of my favorite keyboard shortcuts without this key, and it’s making basic navigation feel impossible.

I’ve done the usual stuff—checked for updates, poked around the keyboard settings, and even tried plugging in an external keyboard to see if it was just a hardware issue. Nope, no luck! The external keyboard’s Alt key is also unresponsive. What makes it even weirder is that all the other keys seem to be functioning perfectly; it’s just that one key that’s giving me grief.

I’ve searched through forums, but didn’t find much that pointed me in the right direction. Some people suggest checking the “Accessibility” settings, while others think it might be a driver issue. I did go into the settings and noticed that there’s an option for “Keyboards” under “Settings,” but I’m kinda lost on what I should be changing or adjusting in there.

Has anyone else had this problem after installing Ubuntu 22.04? I’d love to know if there are any specific tweaks or fixes you’ve tried. Maybe there’s a terminal command I need to run or a package I need to reinstall? I’m not super tech-savvy, so if you could keep it as simple as possible, I’d really appreciate it.

Honestly, if anyone could throw me a lifeline here, that would be fantastic! I’m really eager to get this resolved so I can enjoy using my new setup without being slowed down by this pesky Alt key situation. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!

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    2 Answers






    1. Ubuntu 22.04 Alt Key Issue


      Alt Key Not Working on Ubuntu 22.04

      Sounds frustrating! It really can be a pain when a key just stops working, especially when you need it for shortcuts.

      Here are a few things you could try:

      • Check Keyboard Layout: Go to Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources. Make sure the layout matches your keyboard type. Sometimes choosing the wrong layout can cause issues.
      • Accessibility Settings: In Settings > Accessibility, look for any features that might interfere with key inputs, like Sticky Keys. Make sure they are turned off.
      • Keyboard Shortcuts: Still in Keyboard settings, check Keyboard Shortcuts and see if Alt is set to something weird or if any other keys are overriding it.
      • Terminal Fixes: You can try resetting the keyboard settings via the terminal. Open a terminal and type: 
        gsettings reset org.gnome.desktop.input-sources xkb-options

        Then restart your computer and see if that helps.

      • Try Live USB: If you have a live USB of Ubuntu handy, boot from it and check if the Alt key works there. This can help determine if it’s a software issue or something else.

      If none of that works, maybe it’s worth checking the logs for any errors. You can open terminal and type:

      journalctl -f

      This will list system messages as they happen, so you might catch something that points to what’s wrong!

      Hang in there! Hopefully, one of these steps helps you get that pesky Alt key back in action!


    2. It sounds like you’re having quite a frustrating experience with the Alt key on Ubuntu 22.04. Given that you’ve ruled out hardware issues with both the laptop’s built-in keyboard and an external keyboard, it’s possible that the issue might stem from configuration or system settings. Start by examining your keyboard layout. Go to Settings > Region & Language and ensure that your keyboard layout matches your actual keyboard. Sometimes, a mismatched layout can cause specific keys to behave unexpectedly. Additionally, check if any special keyboard shortcuts or accessibility features are active. Sometimes, features like Sticky Keys or custom shortcut configurations can interfere with standard key functionalities.

      If the layout and settings appear correct, consider resetting your keyboard configuration. You can do this using the terminal. Open a terminal window and type the following commands: sudo apt-get install --reinstall xkb-data followed by sudo dpkg-reconfigure xkb-data. This will reinstall and reconfigure the keyboard settings, which may resolve the issue. After running these commands, restart your system and test the Alt key again. If the problem persists, you might want to check your system logs for any clues or errors by running dmesg or journalctl -b in the terminal. This might provide additional insights into what’s going wrong with the Alt key functionality.

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